Tribes weigh in as New Mexico redistricting bills advance

By MORGAN LEE
Associated Press

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Efforts to shore up Native American political influence in New Mexico through the redistricting process are getting a boost as legislators advance a state Senate map that incorporates consensus recommendations from an array of Indigenous communities. A Senate redistricting bill from Democratic state Sen. Linda Lopez of Albuquerque cleared its first hurdle Thursday with a 6-3 committee endorsement. The map includes recommendations by a Native American coalition. Meanwhile, two Native American communities voiced opposition to a congressional redistricting plan that would extend the New Mexico’s traditionally Democratic northern 3rd District into a conservative oil-producing region of the state.